Outgoing IAF Chief Tomer Bar Calls for Independent October 7 Investigation at Handover Ceremony — Day 941

On May 5, 2026 (Day 941 / Ceasefire Day 208), outgoing Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar delivered a landmark public call for an independent external investigation into the October 7, 2023 failures at his handover ceremony, where he passed command to his successor Major General Omer Tishler. Bar stated that an external inquiry is 'vital for the IDF, for all security bodies, for the families who paid the highest price, for trust between citizens and the military, and for the state.' IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, attending the ceremony, stated that 'like the entire IDF, the air force failed in its mission to defend the State of Israel.' Bar's public call represents a significant break from the Netanyahu government's position — which has consistently resisted forming an independent state commission of inquiry with subpoena power over civilian and political leadership. His remarks carry particular institutional weight as a departing senior commander speaking freely at his farewell ceremony; they echo the earlier resignations of IDF Chief Halevi (January 2025) and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar (March 2025), who both explicitly accepted responsibility for the October 7 failure. The handover took place against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's July 1, 2026 deadline for the government to establish an investigation framework, and followed the May 3 external IDF panel finding that most internal October 7 probes were 'inadequate.' Bereaved families' groups described the outgoing air force chief's statement as institutional validation of their longstanding demand: that only an independent commission with subpoena power over military and political leadership can deliver real accountability for the 1,195 deaths and 251 hostage-takings of October 7.